French plaits, Barbie’s boyfriend and Olly Murs songs - things only dads of daughters will know

Gemma Murray

How to French plait, who Barbie's boyfriend is and all the words to Olly Murs' 'Troublemaker' are just some of the things only Dads of Daughters will know, according to a new survey.

A study of 500 dads with daughters under the age of 18 has revealed the top 50 things fathers with a little girl will have mastered.

Knowing all the members of One Direction, how to paint nails and understanding the term 'pirouette' also feature in the list.

Dads of daughters also know how to dance with her on their feet, and will know exactly how to alleviate a fight between mother and child without upsetting either party.

Wendy Hill, Brand Activation Director for Barbie creators Mattel, said: "By joining in with activities such as cartwheels and playtime, dancing and making fairy wings together, dads are showing their daughters just how much they matter - and that everything they do is important."

Dads of daughters know it is important to shatter stereotypes - and that girls want to play football, build dens and climb trees too.

While knowing all four members of Little Mix, knowing the winners of last year's The X Factor and being able to being able to name Taylor Swift's latest hit also also fall within the role of being dad to a daughter.

The study shows that half of dads know it is important to show their daughters that being kind and brave is more important than being pretty.

And when it comes to empowering their daughter, 42 per cent of dads tell their daughters that they can be anything.

Dads help their daughters prepare for the future with 54 per cent thinking that encouraging their daughter's confidence is one of the most important life lesson they can teach, while 51 per cent try to teach her practical skills.

Letting their imaginations soar is key for a third of dads who believe their daughter's dolls help foster imagination.

When dads join playtime, two thirds recognise that this helps build their daughter’s self-confidence.

They believe time spent in her imaginary world is an investment in her real world - while four in 10 wish they could devote more time to playing with their daughters.

Letting her make her own mistakes, teaching her the value of money at an early age and encouraging her to be brave are amongst the other 'life lessons' dads try to give their little girls.

And researchers found that for eight in 10 dads with a daughter, empowering them to become strong young women is of utmost importance.

Dr Linda Nielsen, of Wake Forest University, says decades of research show that girls who have loving, communicative, supportive relationships with their dads from early childhood are less likely to suffer from a lack of self-confidence and self-reliance as they grow up.

Wendy Hill, Brand Activation Director for Mattel, added: "A huge part of a dad's role is to empower their daughters to be confident, imaginative and sure of who they are.

"Global research shows how time spent in her imaginary world is an investment in her real world, and the importance of nurturing the father-daughter relationship to raise the next generation of girls to know their limitless potential."

TOP 50 THINGS ONLY DADS WITH DAUGHTERS KNOW:

1. Who Barbie's boyfriend is

2. What a pirouette is

3. Glitter gets everywhere

4. How to give the perfect cuddle

5. How to make her feel special

6. How to clean showers full of hair

7. How to shop

8. How to make everything better

9. Girls like getting dirty too

10. When Strictly Come Dancing is on

11. Who the members of One Direction are

12. How to dance with her on your feet

13. You understand it will take hours to get into the bathroom

14. That girls want to play football as well

15. They don't always want pink and purple

16. How to skip

17. That chocolate or ice cream covers a multitude of sins

18. How important it is to colour co-ordinate

19. That girls also like to build dens and climb trees

20. How to play with dolls

21. How to stop a nightmare

22. How to break up a fight between her and her mother

23. How to paint nails

24. How to show enthusiasm when watching a girlie movie or a musical show